Thimble thread cutter



April 28, 1942. N. v. STRATTON THIMBLE THREAD CUTTER Filed July 11, 1940 21 02772422 2' 852a Zion ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 28, 1942 STTES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to thimble thread cutters, and its general object is to provide a thread cutter that includes a blade arranged on a thimble in a manner, so that thread and the like can be severed with minimum effort, while the thimble is on the finger of the user, yet the blade is guarded against casual cutting or becoming caught in material being worked upon, and the blade or any part of the cutter will in no way interfere with the proper use of the thimble.

A further object is to provide a thread cutter that is integral with the thimble, and thereby casual removal or displacement of the cutter is impossible, and it is always ready for use when desired.

A still further object is to provide a combined thread cutter and thimble, that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efficient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claim.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a thimble and thread cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a perspective view.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that the thimble includes the usual hollow tapered cylindrical body I having a beaded base 2 and a rounded top 3 which together with the cylindrical Wall for a portion of the length of the latter are provided with the usual needle receiving indentations.

In order to provide for the thread cutter, the front portion of the thimble body has formed thereon a pair of projections 4 extending outwardly therefrom throughout its length and the projections gradually increase in thickness from the base bead to the top 3, as clearly shown in Figure 2, while the outer faces of the projections which likewise have needle receiving indentations therein, are rounded transversely and merge accordingly into the body to provide an even surface free from lines of demarcation, and the upper end portions of the projections are curved toward and merge into the top, as likewise best shown in Figure 2.

The projections are spaced along the length thereof to provide what may be termed a thread receiving groove 5, with the body wall of the thimble providing the bottom of the groove, and the confronting faces of the projections which provide the side walls of the groove are fiat and disposed in diverging relation to each other from the base bead 2 to the top of the thimble, so that the groove increases in width from its lower end to its upper end, as well as increases in depth accordingly, due to the increasing thickness of the projections. Bridging the groove adjacent to its wide or upper end, is a blade 6 that is fixed to the body wall and the confronting faces or side walls of the groove. The blade is beveled to provide an outer cutting edge that terminates flush with the outer faces of the projections, and the blade is likewise disposed at a slight upward inclination as clearly shown in Figure 2, so as to facilitate severing a thread or the like.

From the above description and disclosure in the drawing, it will be obvious that the groove not only guards the blade to prevent the latter from casually cutting or being caught in material being worked upon, but allows for partial passage of the thread into the groove to bring about the severing thereof. The thimble of course remains on the finger of the user when using the cutter and when it is desired to sever a thread, the latter is drawn taut, thence the thimble carried finger is bent or moved for placing' the blade against the thread for severing the same.

-It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination. I

and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

Ina thimble including a hollow cylindrical body and a rounded top, a thread cutter comprising a pair of projections formed on the body. and extending along its length from said top to the base of the body, said projections having spaced flat confronting faces providing a thread receiving groove extending longitudinally of the body with the latter providing the bottom Wall of the groove, said projections merging laterally in rounded formation into the body and gradually increasing in thickness from the said base to said top to increase the depth of the groove accordingly, said groove increasing in width from its lower end to its upper end, and a beveled blade bridging the groove adjacent said top and fixed to the body wall and said confronting faces for disposal transversely of the groove at an upward inclination, with its cutting edge flush with the outer faces of the projections.

NORMAN V. STRATTON. 

